There are a few issues.
1. Phytohydra is expensive. I have Elvish Pioneer in to try and accelerate my mana but I don't think it does enough alone.
2. Until the Nemesis Mask is on a Phytohydra, it'd be possible to stall.
3. I'd like a way to do direct damage to the Phytohydra without splashing in another color. I've not found a good card to do this yet.
4. And a question... if I play Tallowisp, the search for an enchantment ability wouldn't trigger until I play another Spirit or Arcane spell?
3. Unless you give the Hydra flying, both green and white are really bad in doing this
Yes, that's why to truly break open this card you usually need to play some R for some damage sweepers, that clear blockers and make your Hydra bigger. It becomes tri-color of course, but it's not that hard and pricey to do, now that Shards block is here.
Primary and only casual rule: "any rule that is fine for the most part of the playgroup, is a fine rule". So any further thread with: "if somebody uses/does .... in a casual game, is it ethical/ok?", read the answer above.
- Being a "Johnny/Spike" means you like self-torture. You win often in casual, so everybody hates you; you loose often in competitive, so you hate yourself.
You could use Caltrops: good defense early on, and pumps your attacking hydra in late game... Oh, and even better: Guilty Conscience. Now that's sick... That and Martyrdom... And maybe the en-Kor-creatures (Nomads en-Kor, Lancer en-Kor etc.).
Gotta second pretty much all of that, the en-Kor creatures are pretty sick with it, while hydra is on board, it means none of your creature dies to damage :). (to add the others;Outrider en-Kor, Spirit en-Kor, Warrior en-KorandShaman en-Kor).
This gets me to think Spitemare could find a nice home in there as well.
Primary and only casual rule: "any rule that is fine for the most part of the playgroup, is a fine rule". So any further thread with: "if somebody uses/does .... in a casual game, is it ethical/ok?", read the answer above.
- Being a "Johnny/Spike" means you like self-torture. You win often in casual, so everybody hates you; you loose often in competitive, so you hate yourself.
2. Play something which gives trample instead of bad cards like Asha's Favor and Aspect of the Mongoose
The aspect of the Mongoose is to avoid the card being put back into my hand/into my library. I'd prefer a solution that doesn't involve Privileged Position. Maybe Shielding Plax would be better? I didn't realize Shield of the Oversoul gave flying. So Asha's Favor is dropped.
I think I'll throw in the Hurricane somehow. I also love Guilty Conscience and the en-Kors, but not sure how I'd balance the defense that I feel I need for my hydras, the mana acceleration, and them.
Maybe something like this.... But I really don't know what to take out. I bumped the deck over 60 (bad I know.)
Like this. Forget about everything that does not help your combo. No Hurricane (what for? It's a late-game-spell anyway), no unnecessary tutors, no boring Cehntaur Omenreaders - focus on what you want to do with the deck.
The combo of the deck is to get the Pariah's Shield on the Phytohydra. No damage needs to be blocked after that point so re-routing damage with the en-kors isn't necessary. The rest of the deck is about getting this out and keeping it out.
I know there is plenty of opinoin in deck building, I'm mostly worried about major mistakes.
I noticed some big major loopholes and im still trying to fix it. I had entangler in the deck before but it just took up space...
1)Most of the time your deck really wouldn't live pass the first 5 turns without getting a good wall... but putting too much wall weakens your offense.
2)If this is not against a creature deck you are pretty much useless...
3)If opponent doesn't use spell cards but uses ability creatures like viridian shaman. If they know the deck they will save it for your shield.
4)Everything is too high in mana cost. I'm sometimes even mana deprived.
I do have to admit if you play against a deck with no artifact removing ability and your phyto is shielded its pretty much taking candy from a baby. But if your really just relying on the shield and that phyto... and you get one little setback... its pretty hard standing up again.
I was playing against a mono green trample deck. the deck had 3 viridian shamans and a acidic slime, 4 cards that remove artifacts. I pulled out two shields and 2 phytos... I couldn't do nothing but watch as my shields get destroyed... So if anyone has more suggestions let me know...
This is the deck at the moment...
2 Nemesis Mask
2 Pariah's Shield
4 Elvish Pioneer
4 Phytohydra
3 Aspect of Mongoose
3 Shield of the Oversoul
10 Forest
10 Plains
4 Rebuff the Wicked
4 Commune with Nature
4 Idyllic Tutor
4 Steelshaper's Gift
There are a few issues.
1. Phytohydra is expensive. I have Elvish Pioneer in to try and accelerate my mana but I don't think it does enough alone.
2. Until the Nemesis Mask is on a Phytohydra, it'd be possible to stall.
3. I'd like a way to do direct damage to the Phytohydra without splashing in another color. I've not found a good card to do this yet.
4. And a question... if I play Tallowisp, the search for an enchantment ability wouldn't trigger until I play another Spirit or Arcane spell?
Yes, that's why to truly break open this card you usually need to play some R for some damage sweepers, that clear blockers and make your Hydra bigger. It becomes tri-color of course, but it's not that hard and pricey to do, now that Shards block is here.
if you want to stay in G, Hurricane and Squall line will not hit your hydra directly, but it can work if it's equiped with Pariah's shield.
In W there is also Shining Shoal as a surprise move to redirect damage on Hydra, usualy it's better to hit the opponent with it though...
There is always Cyclone which was reprinted in chronicles; it may still be hard to find though.
Also Time Bomb could be funky.
I would also try to play Enlightened Tutor instead of both your card specific tutors.
Gotta second pretty much all of that, the en-Kor creatures are pretty sick with it, while hydra is on board, it means none of your creature dies to damage :). (to add the others; Outrider en-Kor, Spirit en-Kor, Warrior en-Kor and Shaman en-Kor).
This gets me to think Spitemare could find a nice home in there as well.
The aspect of the Mongoose is to avoid the card being put back into my hand/into my library. I'd prefer a solution that doesn't involve Privileged Position. Maybe Shielding Plax would be better? I didn't realize Shield of the Oversoul gave flying. So Asha's Favor is dropped.
I think I'll throw in the Hurricane somehow. I also love Guilty Conscience and the en-Kors, but not sure how I'd balance the defense that I feel I need for my hydras, the mana acceleration, and them.
Maybe something like this.... But I really don't know what to take out. I bumped the deck over 60 (bad I know.)
2 Nemesis Mask
2 Pariah's Shield
4 Llanowar Elves
2 Centaur Omenreader
4 Phytohydra
2 Guilty Conscience
4 Shield of the Oversoul
10 Forest
10 Plains
3 Avoid Fate
4 Rebuff the Wicked
4 Commune with Nature
4 Idyllic Tutor
4 Steelshaper's Gift
Thanks for the help.
The combo of the deck is to get the Pariah's Shield on the Phytohydra. No damage needs to be blocked after that point so re-routing damage with the en-kors isn't necessary. The rest of the deck is about getting this out and keeping it out.
I know there is plenty of opinoin in deck building, I'm mostly worried about major mistakes.
Phytodeck
I noticed some big major loopholes and im still trying to fix it. I had entangler in the deck before but it just took up space...
1)Most of the time your deck really wouldn't live pass the first 5 turns without getting a good wall... but putting too much wall weakens your offense.
2)If this is not against a creature deck you are pretty much useless...
3)If opponent doesn't use spell cards but uses ability creatures like viridian shaman. If they know the deck they will save it for your shield.
4)Everything is too high in mana cost. I'm sometimes even mana deprived.
I do have to admit if you play against a deck with no artifact removing ability and your phyto is shielded its pretty much taking candy from a baby. But if your really just relying on the shield and that phyto... and you get one little setback... its pretty hard standing up again.
I was playing against a mono green trample deck. the deck had 3 viridian shamans and a acidic slime, 4 cards that remove artifacts. I pulled out two shields and 2 phytos... I couldn't do nothing but watch as my shields get destroyed... So if anyone has more suggestions let me know...